About questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP who is not a member of the government. They provide a means for MSPs to get information from the Scottish Government. They are a critical part of the work of the Parliament.

There are two types of parliamentary question:

Written questions, which receive a written response
Oral questions, such as Topical Questions, which are answered in the Debating Chamber

More detailed information about parliamentary questions can be found in Parliament rules and guidance

Parliamentary questions must:

relate to a matter for which Scottish Government has general responsibility. Or in the case of SPCB Questions, a matter for which the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body is responsible
be brief, clearly worded and address specific points
be in English
not contain offensive language
not express a point of view
not disclose information that is protected by an interdict or court order, commercially sensitive or confidential, or liable to cause personal distress or loss
not refer to any matter in relation to which legal proceedings are active, except with the permission of the Presiding Officer
not seek information that has been provided in response to a question in the last six months

MSPs can submit written questions to the Scottish Government, which will be answered by government ministers or the Law Officers. Written questions can be used by MSPs to get detailed information about the activities of government departments.

Find out about government ministers

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days when the Parliament is sitting. Questions lodged within 10 counting days before, or during, a recess must be answered within 20 working days.

Recess dates

Each written question has a unique reference number. For example, S6W-12345. The first number refers to the parliamentary session, and the W indicates that it is a written question.

Government Initiated Questions (GIQs)

Written questions can be initiated by the Scottish Government to provide information to the Parliament. These are called Government Initiated Questions, or GIQs. An MSP will be asked by the Scottish Government to lodge a GIQ in order to give a Minister the opportunity to answer it and put information in the public domain.

Questions asked in the Debating Chamber

Questions that are asked in the Debating Chamber are known as oral questions. There are different types of oral questions:

First Minister’s Questions
Topical Questions
General Questions
Portfolio Questions
Urgent Questions
Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB) Questions

Sometimes an oral question is not asked in the Chamber. For example, if there is not enough time for it to be taken. When that happens, the MSP will receive a written answer instead.

Oral questions only take place when parliament is sitting.

First Minister's Questions (FMQs)

The First Minister usually answers questions from MSPs in the Debating Chamber each Thursday from midday to 12.45pm.

First Minister's Questions starts with questions from the leader of the largest opposition party. There are then questions from the leaders of other political parties. The number of MSPs a party has determines whether a party leader is entitled to ask questions each week.

After questions from party leaders, the First Minister then takes questions from other MSPs that have been selected by the Presiding Officer earlier in the week. MSPs may be invited by the Presiding Officer to ask supplementary questions following each of these questions.

The Presiding Officer then usually calls several MSPs who have indicated that they wish to ask questions of a local or general nature. These supplementary questions are not selected by the Presiding Officer in advance of FMQs taking place or published prior to them being asked.

The questions selected by the Presiding Officer prior to FMQs taking place are published in the What’s On section but questions from opposition leaders are not. They are listed instead as “Question to be taken in Chamber”. This means the First Minister cannot see those questions in advance.

What's on

Questions for FMQs have the format S6F-12345.

Book tickets to watch FMQs

Topical Questions

MSPs can seek to ask Topical Questions in response to events and changes in circumstances.

If the Presiding Officer selects a Topical Question, they’re usually asked in the Debating Chamber on a Tuesday afternoon. The relevant government minister will answer the question. The Presiding Officer may invite other MSPs to ask supplementary/follow-up questions.

When selecting a Topical Question, the Presiding Officer will consider:

whether the subject has arisen since the Parliament last met, or if there have been significant developments to a subject that has already been discussed
if there is duplication of questions already expected to be covered that week, or answered in the last seven days
whether questions on the same issue have been lodged by other members

To be topical, questions should:

clearly deal with a specific issue in relation to which there has been a recent development
address an issue of national relevance for which the Scottish Government has general responsibility

Topical Questions have the format S6T-12345.

General Questions

General Questions can cover any area for which the Scottish Government is responsible.

However, MSPs cannot lodge General Questions on issues within the portfolios that are covered by the Portfolio Questions sessions that week.

The General Questions session usually takes place on Thursday mornings. The Presiding Officer may invite other MSPs to ask supplementary/follow-on questions to the questions which have been lodged and published in advance.

General Questions have the format S6O-12345.

Portfolio Questions

Portfolio Questions seek answers from particular government departments on particular subject areas.

The portfolios reflect the responsibilities of different Cabinet Secretaries.

Read about government portfolios on the Scottish Government website

The Portfolio Questions sessions usually take place on Wednesday and Thursday. The Presiding Officer may invite other MSPs to ask supplementary/follow-on questions to the questions which have been lodged and published in advance.

Portfolio Questions have the format S6O-12345.

What's on

Urgent Questions

If an important matter arises, which an MSP thinks requires an immediate response, they can request that a question is answered on the same day. This is called an Urgent Question.

If the Presiding Officer agrees that the question is urgent and of public importance, it will be asked in the Debating Chamber that day.

The question will be answered by either the First Minister, the relevant government minister, or one of the Law Officers. They will then usually take follow-up questions on the subject from other MSPs.

Urgent Questions are not included in the Questions and answers search. However, there is a SPICe fact sheet that lists all selected urgent questions.

SPICe fact sheets

SPCB Questions

Rather than asking questions of the Scottish Government, SPCB Questions sessions periodically take place in the Chamber to allow MSPs to ask the members of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB) about the issues for which it is responsible. (Questions on the rules and procedures of the Parliament are not allowed.)

The SPCB is the body that runs the Scottish Parliament. It makes sure that the Parliament has the property, staff and services that it needs.